Dani Read
“Women are weapons, dress yourself as such.” That’s the battle cry of Dani Read, the Brooklyn-based twentysomething lingerie designer who debuted her own label, FYI (Fuck You Industries) last year. An Indiana native, Read studied at FIT and built her expertise at Marlies Dekkers and Kiki de Montparnasse before launching FYI to address a void in intimate apparel. Rebelling against the industry’s portrayal of women as either “perky pin ups” or “delicate flowers,” Read explains she “chose to go into intimate design because I want lingerie to inspire power and confidence in women, rather than objectify us.” Much more inventive than the typical lacy garments that consumers have come to expect, FYI lingerie is meant to inspire and empower the femme fatale in every woman. Using quality leathers, spikes, studs and silks, Read’s designs now appear in high-end boutiques around the world. As FYI now embarks on its fourth season, Read’s devotees are beginning to expect the unexpected. What sets her apart from other designers? “I think this industry thrives on pressuring women to impress their partners,” Read says. “I design for women to impress themselves.”
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